Schuttin' from the hip: Wisconsin's offense isn't just struggling, it's downright awful

Each week, Saturday Tradition managing editor Dustin Schutte offers his spin on what matters most in the B1G.

Is there any hope for Wisconsin’s offense?

Time is up for Wisconsin. There’s no more giving Paul Chryst the benefit of the doubt this season. It’s time to see the Badgers’ offense for what it really is. Bad.

Wisconsin was essentially given a free pass through the first 4 weeks of the season. Passing game struggles, red-zone woes and a lagging rushing attack were all very prevalent at the time, but those issues were explained away by a brutal schedule. Playing No. 19 Penn State, No. 12 Notre Dame and No. 14 Michigan in a month-long span is no easy task.

Oddly enough, it was a 24-0 win over Illinois that has everyone realizing that Wisconsin’s offense is in serious trouble. It’s been so awful, in fact, that it’s fair to ask if this team is capable of making a bowl game, even playing in a division that might be one of the weakest in college football.

Last week, the Badgers possessed the ball for nearly 43 minutes and scored just 24 points. They racked up nearly 500 yards of total offense … and scored just 24 points. Graham Mertz completed just 10-of-19 passes for 100 yards and added another interception to his growing total (7, 2nd-most in the B1G). The Badgers finished the game with 2 turnovers.

Saturday’s final numbers didn’t much help Wisconsin’s offensive image. Here are the atrocious statistics Chryst’s team has put up through the first 5 games, along with where it stands nationally (130 FBS teams):

• Scoring offense: 19.6 ppg (115th nationally)
• Passing offense: 171.6 ypg (115th nationally)
• Total offense: 380.4 ypg (79th nationally)
• Red zone TD %: 44.4% (118th nationally)
• Red zone scoring %: 72.22% (114th nationally)
• 3rd down success %: 31.1 % (120th nationally)
• Turnovers lost: 14 (126th nationally)
• Turnover margin: -11 (130th nationally)

Here’s one more cringe-worthy statistic, courtesy of Ben Kenney of The Zone in Madison: Wisconsin has thrown 3 touchdown passes this season. Army, which runs a triple-option offense and has gone to the air just 33 times this season (a national low), has 4.

Seriously.

Bill Parcells always used to say, “You are what your record says you are.” In this case, you are what the offensive statistics say you are.

Running the football has continued to be a strength, but not at the same level we’re accustomed to seeing. Clemson transfer Chez Mellusi has rushed for 477 yards and 3 touchdowns on nearly 5 yards per carry. He has been productive at times in his first year in Madison.

The Badgers are averaging 208.8 yards per game on the ground, 5th-best number in the B1G. The 4.46 yards per carry isn’t outstanding, but it still ranks in the top half of the league.

There’s been a real failure to capitalize, though. Settling for field goals in the red zone, costly turnovers and ill-timed penalties have crushed Wisconsin through the first 5 games of the season. Ultimately, it’s why the Badgers enter Saturday’s game against Army at 2-3 rather than near the top of the B1G West along with Iowa.

It was unrealistic to believe that Mertz would continue to play like he did in the 2020 season-opener against Illinois, when he completed 20-of-21 passes for 248 yards and 5 touchdowns without a pick. Unless your name is Justin Fields, that’s not sustainable.

But it was expected that Mertz would put the Badgers in a good position offensively more often than not. Instead, he’s posting a 55.8% completion rate with 2 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He’s exceeded the 60% completion mark just once this fall, that coming in Wisconsin’s 34-7 win over Eastern Michigan.

Wisconsin’s schedule has been as difficult as anyone’s in the country. There’s no dismissing Penn State, Notre Dame and Michigan are all playing well defensively right now. We were willing to give the Badgers a pass for those performances if they put it all together against a less-talented and hobbled Illinois team.

They didn’t.

It’s time to come to the realization that Wisconsin’s offense just isn’t very good. That’s put it kindly, too.

Ferentz vs. Franklin

“With so much drama in the B-1-G …”

OK, those lyrics from Snoop Dogg’s hit song Gin & Juice might’ve been slightly manipulated to fit the topic at hand, but it feels appropriate, right? The back-and-forth bickering between James Franklin and Kirk Ferentz could warrant an episode on some sort of reality television show.

It’s high-level entertainment derived from low-grade pettiness. Honestly, I don’t want it to stop. As one who covers, writes about and talks about the B1G, it makes my job even more fun.

For those not familiar, Franklin was unhappy with Iowa fans booing Penn State’s injured players during last week’s game at Kinnick. He made a comment immediately after the 23-20 loss, a quote many labeled as “sour grapes.”

Tuesday, Ferentz was asked about the “hostile” reaction from the crowd every time a Nittany Lion hit the turf and provided a not-so-diplomatic response, saying, “I guess they smelled a rat.”

A day later during his media availability, Franklin responded to the accusations by emphatically stating that faking injuries is not something practiced in State College. He also listed the players who left the game with injury — PJ Mustipher, Sean Clifford, Devyn Ford and others — and never returned.

“I wasn’t attacking the University of Iowa, I’m trying to protect college football,” Franklin said.

Who’s right? Who’s wrong? I have no idea. One thing I do know, though, is that both fan bases are basically ready to move on (even though I’m not). Both coaches had an opportunity to squash it all and put it behind them.

Instead, Ferentz and Franklin took the path less traveled. Personally, I hope more coaches start venturing down that path with more frequency.

The Kerry Coombs clip everyone has to see

Following Ohio State’s 35-28 loss to Oregon in September, there were a lot of conversations about Kerry Coombs’ status on the coaching staff. Just 2 games in, some thought it was time for Ryan Day to cut bait.

Tuesday, we found out why Day didn’t want to make that move.

Coombs was open and honest during his media availability this week, calling this the “hardest stretch” of his professional career after losing play-calling duties as the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator. He also said that he was not interested in running from adversity.

Even as a writer, it’s hard to find the words to describe Coombs’ message on adversity, so I’ll allow the video to do the talking:

Earlier this season, Kerry Coombs lost play-calling duties at Ohio State. He called it the "hardest stretch of my professional career." Today, he gave a sermon on dealing with adversity, which should be seen by every college athlete. pic.twitter.com/8NEDLCz7X2

— Dave Holmes (@DaveHolmesTV) October 12, 2021

Quick draws

No. 10 Michigan State vs. Indiana: What will the Hoosiers’ offense look like out of the bye week? They have yet to score a touchdown in B1G play, and while the defense has played fairly well, it’s not going to be able to completely shut down an explosive Michigan State attack. If IU can’t start putting drives together, MSU is going to cruise to 7-0.

Nebraska vs. Minnesota: This probably comes down to Nebraska’s mental state after suffering another close loss. Minnesota is now without its top 2 running backs (Mohamed Ibrahim and Trey Potts), and Tanner Morgan is completing just 52% of his passes. If the Blackshirt defense continues to stand tall, the Huskers should be in good shape to get back to .500.

Rutgers vs. Northwestern: Yes, Rutgers has lost 3 straight games, but Greg Schiano’s team is playing better on both sides of the ball than Northwestern. The Scarlet Knights have run through a gauntlet, though, playing Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State in consecutive weeks. Northwestern is coming off a bye. Even though Rutgers looks like the better football team, that could be a major factor on Saturday.

Purdue vs. No. 2 Iowa: Jeff Brohm is 3-1 against Kirk Ferentz, in one of the stranger occurrences in the B1G over the past 4 years. A big factor in this contest might be Purdue’s choice at quarterback. Jack Plummer has 7 touchdowns with 0 interceptions and a 69.5% completion rate. Aidan O’Connell has tossed 5 picks with just 4 touchdowns. Do the Boilers play it safe to keep it close, or roll the dice and try to capitalize on big-play potential?

Army vs. Wisconsin: Even though Wisconsin is coming off a 24-0 win over Illinois, this offense still has some serious issues. Can the defense stand strong enough for 60 minutes and shut down Army’s triple-option attack? And, if so, will the Badgers rushing attack put enough points on the board to get a victory? A lot of questions for Paul Chryst’s bunch heading into the final nonconference game of the season.

Safety

Purdue vs. No. 2 Iowa O/U 42.5 (over)

You know what they say about history — it tends to repeat itself.

The teams have played 11 combined games this season, with 6 games hitting under 42 points and 5 going over. But the history of the Boilermakers and Hawkeyes has tended to exceed that 43-point barrier. The last time they combined for fewer than 40 points was in Purdue’s 24-15 victory over Iowa in 2019.

In their past 10 meetings, the point total has hit 43 points or more 8 times. Both teams are really good defensively, but I’ll take a chance on history this weekend. Plus, I believe Brohm will reach into that bag of tricks in an attempt to grab his 4th win over Ferentz.

Have some fun and take the over this weekend in Iowa City.